Lanham's neighborhoods are mostly from the 1960s, and their basements often depend on sump pumps that have been patched or replaced more than once. The right answer may be a new switch, a new pump or a backup system. Call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Lanham.
Local conditions
Lanham is a fully built-out inner suburb along the Capital Beltway, next to the New Carrollton Metro and Amtrak station. The Lanham mailing address reaches beyond the community itself and takes in Seabrook. The median home dates to 1969, so foundations, drain tile and pits in many houses are more than fifty years old. In homes of that age, a pump may have been added long after construction, with a basin set too shallow or a discharge pipe that empties right beside the foundation.
WSSC Water provides water and wastewater service in Lanham. If a basement toilet or laundry drains to an ejector pump and sewage is backing up, the cause may be the ejector or the private sewer line; sewage coming out of a public manhole or the street goes to WSSC at 301-206-4002. In Prince George's County, plumbing permits and inspections come from WSSC Water, not the County.
Repair, replace or back it up
| Choice | Makes sense when | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| Swap the float switch | The pump runs when lifted by hand | Costs less than a pump, but check the motor's age |
| New check valve | Water drops back into the pit after each cycle | Cuts cycling and adds pump life |
| Replace the pump | Motor is seized, noisy or decades old | Match capacity to how fast the pit fills |
| Deeper or new basin | Old pit is cracked or too small | More work in a finished basement |
| Battery backup and alarm | Finished space or frequent outages | Test the battery once or twice a year |
Signs to act on
- The pump runs longer than it used to for the same storm
- Water seeps up around the edge of the pit lid
- Clicking, but no motor
- Stained or soft drywall at the bottom of finished walls
When to schedule it
Do not wait for a storm to find out the pump is weak. Test it in late winter, ahead of thaws and spring rain, and again before summer thunderstorm season. In freezing weather, check that the outdoor end of the discharge is not frozen shut, since an iced line can send the water straight back into the pit.
Sump Pumps questions in Lanham
Will a sump pump help with water seeping through old basement walls?
What does a high-water alarm do?
Can the sump pump empty into a floor drain or laundry sink?
Who do I call if sewage is coming back from the street sewer?
More plumbing services in Lanham
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